Best stud finder

Tackle home projects like a professional. Jump to a Section. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, best stud finder, we may receive compensation.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Jump to a Section. To find the best stud finders, we put 30 electronic and magnetic options to the test at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa. Each one was put to the task of locating wood and metal studs—as well as wiring and pipes, where applicable—behind walls covered in drywall, plaster, and paneling. Our testers evaluated the accuracy of the devices as well as their speediness in locating the studs.

Best stud finder

Looking for studs in all the wrong places? After investigating over 28 of the best stud finders on the market, we compared the top 12 models side-by-side. We tested for accuracy, ease of use, and features, both in isolated tests as well as while working on home projects to get a feel of their real-world performance. Read on to see our detailed results and find what works best for you, whether you're hanging a mirror or remodeling your entire kitchen. It has three modes; wood, metal, and electrical power, and is quite accurate with all three. In addition to the three scan modes, the Bosch has a center finder for studs, a magnetic sensor to show screws and other metal, and a ring that changes color depending on how close you are to the material you're seeking. The light-up ring changes from green no stud sensed , to yellow close , to red directly on top of a stud. The ring is also hollow, allowing accurate marks right in the center of the sensor. For bonus points, the ring is wide enough to accept a permanent marker if that's your writing implement of choice. We appreciated not having to hold any buttons down to use it, which was more comfortable in awkward positions, like looking for ceiling joists. We also love the light-up screen, which made it easy to use in crawl spaces or other dimly lit areas. On the downside, we wish the stud finder was a little smaller; as it is, it's rather bulky and takes up most of the pocket on a tool belt. Its accuracy is admirable, but it takes three passes of an object to detect its location accurately. Without the multiple passes, it can be off enough to miss the stud completely. Despite its bulk and learning curve, the Bosch GMS is accurate, easy to read, and multi-purpose.

What We Like Shows the entire stud and indicates which direction to move the stud finder Built-in stud marker Always on deep scan.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants. If you plan on hanging anything over about 20 pounds in your home, you'll need a stud finder to help you locate the studs and joists you'll need to anchor into to keep things secured in place.

Knowing where your studs are is crucial for hanging up heavy items, like mirrors or mounts for flat-screen TVs. Some stud finders have other features, too, like deep scanning and AC wire detection. To test all the features, we put a selection of stud finders through their paces on a wall of our own making and walls in real homes. Magnetic stud finders work by waving the magnet along the wall until it catches on the fasteners that attach drywall to the studs. Since fasteners may be spaced over a foot apart on a single stud, it may take longer to locate one with a magnetic stud finder, but this is an affordable and simple option. If the builder missed the stud, so will the magnetic stud finder. In commercial construction, where metal studs are standard, you may find magnetic stud finders more useful. Most electronic stud finders work by sending out a signal from a sensor inside, then reading the signal that bounces back.

Best stud finder

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more. We decided to test a slew of them to help readers find one that suits their needs, including both magnetic and electronic models to find the best stud finder options for a variety of user preferences.

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The wide LED display can light up in sections if multiple parts of the tool sit over several studs at once, which can happen in corners or near doors and windows. Our Top Picks. After this pack leader, there were five devices all tied for our second-place score, but with unique strengths and weaknesses based on their design. According to the manufacturer, it can also be used over lath or tile that's atop drywall or plaster. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission, which helps support our testing. What We Like Removable magnets can be used to mark position of studs Easy to use No calibration or batteries required. Why Trust The Spruce. It was able to find the studs easily, though we found that the device had to be directly over the screw for it to recognize it. The Buckyball saga, recounted here in Gizmodo, is enough to make any parent terrified of magnets. Our Testing Process. The C.

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

While you may get definitive results in one case, you could be left scratching your head in another. While newer homes generally have drywall, there are many older homes that still have plaster walls. Accuracy 9. Use profiles to select personalised content. For any home project where you hang or drill into a wall , stud finders are absolutely necessary. It quickly detected wooden studs and electrical wires behind the wall—it typically took just a single pass. This finder gives a visible and audible signal when it locates a stud, but it scans a smaller area and is less durable than our main pick. Hanson really stood apart. In standard scan mode, the Craftsman located some copper pipe, which was odd, but the pipe was too narrow to be a stud and the device never registered a center. What Could Be Improved It's not very compact or beginner-friendly.